Second World War German occupation proclamation printed in Italian and issued by
The Supreme Commander of the German Armed Forces during the partisan war in occupied Italy,
in August 1944 with code Δ 210/8.44
It warns the Italian civilian population that German forces will respond ruthlessly to partisan activity, sabotage and assistance given to resistance fighters.
The proclamation claims that German forces had previously behaved “correctly” and with respect towards the population, but warns that any increase in attacks by what it calls “banditi” — bandits, the German occupation term for partisans, would result in immediate reprisals.
It describes a series of draconian penalties.
- Anyone possessing weapons or explosives and failing to report them to the nearest German command “SARÀ FUCILATO” — “WILL BE SHOT.”
- Anyone sheltering, protecting, feeding or supplying partisans with weapons will be shot.
- Anyone knowing of a partisan group or individual partisan and failing to report them will be shot.
- Anyone supplying information to the enemy or to partisans concerning German headquarters or military depots will be shot.
The most severe clause threatens collective punishment against entire communities. Any village shown to contain partisans, or in which attacks against German or Italian soldiers or acts of sabotage have taken place, is threatened with being:
“SARÀ INTERAMENTE BRUCIATO” — “ENTIRELY BURNED.”
It further states that all male inhabitants aged eighteen and over:
“SARANNO TUTTI FUCILATI” — “WILL ALL BE SHOT”
while women and girls are threatened with internment in labour camps.
The leaflet concludes by telling Italians that the welfare of their country and families is in their own hands and warns that German forces will act:
“con giustizia, ma senza pietà” — “with justice, but without mercy.”
Condition
Original wartime paper with horizontal fold, tape mounting / reinforcement to left side, and a little edge wear. Fully legible overall and complete. Please study the scans carefully as they form part of the condition description.